Report 18 Kings Somborne

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Post-Roman Pottery from Excavations in Kings Somborne, Hampshire Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 18 By Ben Jervis MA PIFA. INTRODUCTION This report summarises the 737 sherds of pottery recovered from several excavations undertaken in Kings Somborne by the Test Valley Archaeological Trust between the 1980’s-1990’s. Excavations at the site of John of Gaunt’s palace recovered a series of layers, ditches and pits, most of which contained little pottery. Stretches of ditch were also uncovered during 2 excavations at Kings Somborne Primary School and in the graveyard of the village church. Excavations in 1990 uncovered an Anglo-Saxon sunken featured building. The Anglo-Saxon pottery from these excavations has been the subject of a previous report by Helen Rees, who identified several fabric types and discussed affinities and distribution. For the purposes of this report these types have been simplified. Distribution will not be discussed as the vast majority of sherds appear to be redeposited or residual. The report will also define the medieval wares present and assess the post medieval pottery from the site. Sherds were studied under a x10 binocular microscope and were sorted into fabric groups using the Hampshire medieval pottery type series. Elements of form, fabric and decoration were recorded and material was quantified by sherd count, sherd weight, maximum vessel count, and rim diameter/percent measurements were taken. The pottery will be discussed broadly by period and then summarised by site. As much of the material is residual or redeposited the dating of wares is largely based on parallels with elsewhere, principally Romsey and Southampton for the western and southern Hampshire wares and Newbury for those wares from the north of the county. THE POTTERY Anglo-Saxon Pottery (table 1) There are 99 sherds of Anglo-Saxon pottery, representing a maximum of 95 vessels and with an average sherd weight of only 5g. This demonstrates that much of this material is likely to be residual or redeposited. The only feature of certain Anglo-Saxon date is the grubenhäus, excavated in 1990. This contained a small assemblage of fragmented sherds and the faunal remains suggest that these deposits may have accumulated during the use of the building, rather than being the result of later dumping. Organic Tempered Wares Four variants of organic tempered ware have been identified. The most common ware is Organic Tempered Ware with Fine Sand, where sand seems to have been added as temper to the silty clay, which was also tempered with organic material. Organic Tempered Ware with Sand is a coarser version of this fabric. A single sherd of Organic Tempered Ware with Chalk is present. It is possible that the chalk is a natural constituent of the clay, perhaps suggesting a downland source for some of the pottery. There are 3 sherds of Organic Tempered Ware with no added temper. As Rees has

Transcript of Report 18 Kings Somborne

Page 1: Report 18 Kings Somborne

Post-Roman Pottery from Excavations in Kings Somborne, Hampshire Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 18

By Ben Jervis MA PIFA.

INTRODUCTION This report summarises the 737 sherds of pottery recovered from several excavations undertaken in

Kings Somborne by the Test Valley Archaeological Trust between the 1980’s-1990’s. Excavations at

the site of John of Gaunt’s palace recovered a series of layers, ditches and pits, most of which

contained little pottery. Stretches of ditch were also uncovered during 2 excavations at Kings

Somborne Primary School and in the graveyard of the village church. Excavations in 1990 uncovered

an Anglo-Saxon sunken featured building. The Anglo-Saxon pottery from these excavations has been

the subject of a previous report by Helen Rees, who identified several fabric types and discussed

affinities and distribution. For the purposes of this report these types have been simplified.

Distribution will not be discussed as the vast majority of sherds appear to be redeposited or residual.

The report will also define the medieval wares present and assess the post medieval pottery from

the site.

Sherds were studied under a x10 binocular microscope and were sorted into fabric groups using the

Hampshire medieval pottery type series. Elements of form, fabric and decoration were recorded and

material was quantified by sherd count, sherd weight, maximum vessel count, and rim

diameter/percent measurements were taken. The pottery will be discussed broadly by period and

then summarised by site. As much of the material is residual or redeposited the dating of wares is

largely based on parallels with elsewhere, principally Romsey and Southampton for the western and

southern Hampshire wares and Newbury for those wares from the north of the county.

THE POTTERY

Anglo-Saxon Pottery (table 1)

There are 99 sherds of Anglo-Saxon pottery, representing a maximum of 95 vessels and with an

average sherd weight of only 5g. This demonstrates that much of this material is likely to be residual

or redeposited. The only feature of certain Anglo-Saxon date is the grubenhäus, excavated in 1990.

This contained a small assemblage of fragmented sherds and the faunal remains suggest that these

deposits may have accumulated during the use of the building, rather than being the result of later

dumping.

Organic Tempered Wares

Four variants of organic tempered ware have been identified. The most common ware is Organic

Tempered Ware with Fine Sand, where sand seems to have been added as temper to the silty clay,

which was also tempered with organic material. Organic Tempered Ware with Sand is a coarser

version of this fabric. A single sherd of Organic Tempered Ware with Chalk is present. It is possible

that the chalk is a natural constituent of the clay, perhaps suggesting a downland source for some of

the pottery. There are 3 sherds of Organic Tempered Ware with no added temper. As Rees has

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already discussed, the fabrics are typical of those found at mid Anglo-Saxon sites in the Test Valley

and in Hamwic. A single, simple, everted rim, with a rounded profile is present, probably from a jar.

Ware Name SC SW MVC ASW

Mid-Saxon Organic Tempered 3 17 3 6

Mid-Saxon Organic Tempered with Fine Sand 53 268 53 5

Mid-Saxon Organic Tempered with Sand 5 30 5 6

Mid-Saxon Organic Tempered with Chalk 1 5 1 5

Mid-Saxon Micaceous Sandy Ware 1 2 1 2

Chalk Tempered Ware 14 42 12 3

Crystalline Tempered Ware 1 3 1 3

Coarse Flint Tempered Ware 21 147 19 7

Total 99 514 95 5

Table 1: Quantification of the Anglo-Saxon Pottery

Micaceous Sandy Ware

A single sherd of micaceous sandy ware is present, which Rees suggests dates to the Anglo-Saxon

period (Rees fabric 11).

Chalk Tempered Ware

There are 14 sherds, representing a maximum of 12 vessels, of Chalk Tempered Ware. Whilst these

are present in the mid-Saxon settlement of Hamwic, they are more typically a later Anglo-Saxon

type, probably dating to the 9th-11th centuries. A single fabric is present:

Fabric Cmq1 is grey throughout. Inclusions consist of abundant sub-rounded chalk in various sizes, with

occasional sub-rounded, medium sized quartz.

Only 1 rim sherd was present, a simple, everted form with a rounded profile.

Crystalline Tempered Ware

A single sherd was present of a sandy ware with fine, regular voids, possibly the result of the

presence of crystals in the clay. A small quantity of sherds of this type have been identified in

Romsey and Winchester.

Coarse Flint Tempered Ware

There are 21 sherds, representing a maximum of 19 vessels, of Coarse Flint Tempered Ware. The

coarse fabric matches well with flint tempered wares from Hamwic and vessels are probably of mid-

late Anglo Saxon date. The fabric can be described as follows:

Fabric F3 varies in colour from grey-buff-orange. There are abundant angular flint fragments, which are often

patinated.

One bowl rim is present, an everted hammerhead form. There are also single examples of everted

clubbed and hammerhead rims from vessels of unidentified form.

Summary

The lack of diagnostic sherds demonstrates how fragmented the assemblage of Anglo-Saxon pottery

is. The fabrics present are very similar to those from the few Saxon contexts in Romsey and also

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match well with material from Hamwic. No Saxon features were excavated other than the

grubenhäus, perhaps suggesting that as at rural sites such as Cowdrey’s Down near Basingstoke, that

rubbish was spread over surfaces or the fields, rather than being deposited in pits.

Medieval Pottery (table 2)

This broad group covers wares dating from the 11th-15th centuries. There are no sealed features of

this date, meaning that the wares can only be dated on the basis of parallels with elsewhere. Most

of the wares present have also been identified in Romsey, or are known north Hampshire types.

There are a total of 369 sherds, representing a maximum of 335 vessels. As with the Saxon pottery,

sherds are very fragmented, with an ASW of 7g. Many types are represented by single sherds.

Ware Name SC SW of MVC ASW

Flint and Sand Tempered Ware 34 179 30 5

Micaceous Sandy Ware with Flint 2 25 2 13

Kennet Valley A 8 52 8 7

Wessex Coarseware 114 754 112 7

Early Medieval Fine Sandy Ware 53 239 53 5

Kennet Valley B 71 614 71 9

Laverstock-type Ware 13 69 12 5

South Hampshire Redware 3 17 3 6

Southampton Sandy Ware 1 2 1 2

Surrey Whiteware 2 15 2 8

Local Whiteware 2 11 2 6

Iron Rich Whiteware 2 11 1 6

Whiteware with Flint 3 17 2 6

Silty Sandy Ware 1 22 1 22

Medieval sandy ware with argillaceous inclusions 3 14 3 5

Sandy Ware with Flint 1 5 1 5

Oolitic Limestone Tempered Ware 1 4 1 4

Coarse Border Ware 1 22 1 22

Wessex Redware 6 56 5 9

Transitional Sandy Ware 48 546 24 11

Total 369 2674 335 7

Table 2: Quantification of the Medieval Pottery

Flint and Sand Tempered Ware/Kennet Valley A Ware/Micaceous Sandy Ware with Flint

These three types have been grouped together as they are all contemporary and variations on the

same theme. They date to the 11th-12th centuries. Kennet Valley A Ware has been used to define

wares matching those wares from north Hampshire, produced for example in the Newbury area

(Vince et al 1997), whilst Flint and Sand Tempered Ware has been used to describe types identified

in Romsey, which match more closely with Saxo-Norman types from Southampton (Brown 2002).

The fabrics are as follows:

Fabric FMQ2 has partially oxidised surfaces with a grey core. There are abundant sub-angular flint inclusions, with occasional, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz. Fabric FMQ3 is grey throughout. Inclusions consist of moderately abundant, sub-angular flint with moderately abundant medium sized, sub-rounded quartz. Some sherds are more consistently fired with buff surfaces and a grey core. Fabric FMQ5 is oxidised throughout and glazed...

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Fabric FQF4 has a sandy matrix with sparse, fine sized quartz inclusions, common, larger, angular flint

fragments.

Fabric CQF2 is a very coarse white/greyware with abundant sub-angular flint fragments and coarse sized

quartz grains. A Newbury/Kennett Valley type.

Fabric FMQ1 is unevenly fired, with colours ranging from grey to orange. There are abundant, angular flint inclusions and moderately abundant, sub-rounded, medium sized quart grains. This may be a Kennet Valley type (Lorraine Mepham pers. Comm.).

Fabric MQ6 is quite a coarse fabric, which is grey throughout. Inclusions consist of common sub-rounded,

medium sized quartz grains and small, angular flint fragments which are generally patinated. This may be a

Dorset type.

The Romsey/Test Valley types are most common, with only 8 sherds of the Kennet Valley A Wares

being present. Only 2 sherds could be assigned to vessel forms, both being from jars.

Wessex Coarsewares

These wares are the most common medieval type, with 114 sherds being present. These coarse

sandy wares are also the most common early medieval type in Romsey, where they appear to date

from the 12th-14th centuries. The fabrics can be broadly grouped into two types:

Fabric MQ1 varies is colour from black to orange. Vessels are generally handmade. There are abundant sub-angular/sub-rounded, medium sized quartz inclusions which are densely packed. This is the most abundant ware in this group.

Fabric MQ2 is grey-buff throughout, sometimes with orange surfaces. There are abundant sub-angular/sub-

rounded, medium sized quartz, which are less densely packed than fabric MQ1.

Fragments of 2 bowls/dishes and 6 jars are present, the remainder of the sherds are undiagnostic in

regard to form. All of the jar rims are simple everted forms, whilst the bowl has a beaded rim. Two

sherds have a partial, clear glaze, one on the interior, the other on the exterior.

Early Medieval Fine Sandy Ware

This group includes Michelmersh-type Ware (Mepham and Brown 2007), but also other fine sandy

wares which are likely to be locally produced. There are 53 very small sherds present, only 1 could

be identified by form, a jar with a simple, everted rim. The fabric is as follows:

Fabric FQ1 is grey-buff throughout, sometimes with orange surfaces. There are abundant sub-angular/sub-

rounded fine sized quartz, which are densely packed. Michelmersh-type wares belong to this fabric group, but

not all sherds in this fabric will be Michelmersh products.

Fabric FQ2 is buff/grey throughout. The only inclusions are moderately abundant fine quartz grains.

Fabric FQ17 is black throughout with a silty matrix and sparse sub-rounded and sub-angular quartz grains. This

may be a late Saxon type.

Kennet Valley B Ware

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These chalk and flint tempered wares have been identified in Newbury, where they date to the 13th-

14th century, and have also previously been identified in Kings Somborne (Timby 2004). They are a

common type in north Hampshire. Two fabrics were identified:

Fabric MQcf1 Varies in colour from brown to grey. Inclusions consist of common sub-rounded, medium sized

quartz which is often milky, angular flint fragments and abundant rounded voids from leached out chalk

temper.

Fabric MQcf2 is reduced (grey/black in colour). There are common, sub-angular quartz grains with common

angular flint fragments. Evidence of occasional chalk fragments.

Amongst the very fragmented sherds, 3 bowls and 11 jars were identified. There are single examples

of bowls with beaded, clubbed and hammerhead rims. The clubbed example is inturned. There are 3

examples each of jars with clubbed, hammerhead and simple everted forms. All of these forms have

been paralleled in Newbury (Vince et al 1997). All of the sherds are undecorated and unglazed as is

typical of these wares.

Laverstock-type Ware

There are 13 sherds of Laverstock-type Ware, representing a maximum of 12 vessels, 7 of which

have been identified as jugs. This ware is a hard, fine whiteware, produced at Laverstock, near

Salisbury (Musty et al 1969). They are the most common glazed sandy ware in Romsey and are

common across west Hampshire. There are single examples of sherds with applied pellet and thumb

impressed decoration and 1 example of a handle which has been slashed is present.

South Hampshire Redware

There are 3 sherds of South Hampshire Redware, a fine iron rich redware. This is the second most

common glazed sandy ware in Romsey, which would appear to mark the northern limit of its

distribution. The fabric is as follows:

Fabric FQfe2 is a sandy ware which is pink throughout, with abundant fine quartz and common red iron ore.

Southampton-type Sandy Ware

A single sherd of Southampton-type Sandy Ware (Brown 2002) is present. This is present in small

quantities in Romsey and a production centre in the Test Valley has been tentatively suggested on

the basis of unusually high quantities this ware at Wellow. The fabric is as follows:

Fabric FQfe6 has orange surfaces with grey core. Inclusions consist of moderately abundant, fine sized quartz

with occasional iron rich clay pellets/red iron ore.

Surrey Whitewares

There are 2 sherds of Surrey Whiteware of probable Kingston type (see Pearce and Vince 1988).

Local Whiteware

There are 2 sherds of this fine, iron rich whiteware. This fabric is present in small quantities in

Romsey and has also been identified in Southampton (Brown 2002):

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Fabric FQfe1 is a wheelthrown whiteware with abundant, fine quartz and sparse black iron ore. There are

occasional white clay pellets.

Iron Rich Whiteware There are 2 sherds of an iron rich whiteware: Fabric MQfeq1 is buff throughout, with a slightly darker core. Inclusions consist of common sub-rounded iron stained and non iron stained quartz, with occasional flecks of black iron ore.

Whiteware with Flint

There are 3 sherds of a whiteware fabric with flint inclusions. One sherd is from a jar. This may be a

Surrey type, and similar wares have been identified in east Hampshire, although similar fabrics are

also present in Romsey:

Fabric MQffe2 is buff/grey throughout. There are common, sub-rounded, medium sized quartz grains and

angular flint with black iron ore.

Silty Sandy Ware

One large sherd of this ware is present. It has been identified in Romsey: Fabric FQ4 is a wheelthrown oxidised sandy ware. The only visible inclusions are sparse, fine sized quartz

grains.

Medieval Sandy Ware with Argillaceous Inclusions

There are 3 sherds of this ware, characterised by the presence of iron rich clay pellets: Fabric FQarg1 is buff/white throughout. There are common, fine, sub-rounded quartz grains with occasional

iron rich clay pellets.

Sandy Ware with Flint

A single sherd is present:

Fabric FEQmqf1 is a well fired greyware with common, sub-rounded and sub-angular iron stained quartz grains

with a lesser quantity of white and clear, generally sub-rounded grains. There are occasional, small, angular

flint fragments.

Oolithic Limestone Tempered Ware

A single sherd is present in this ware, which has previously been identified in Kings Somborne by

Timby (2004):

Fabric MQli1 has buff surfaces with a grey core. There are sparse-moderate, sub-rounded and rounded medium

sized quartz grains with sub-rounded fragments of (oolithic?) limestone. Micaceous.

Wessex Redware

This is a common and well known type in west Hampshire, dating to the late 14th and early 15th

century. There are 6 sherds present, representing a maximum of 5 vessels. One sherd was identified

as being from a jar:

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Fabric MQ4 is a wheelthrown sandy ware with oxidised surfaces and reduced core. There are common medium

sized, sub-rounded quartz grains. Occasional fragments of flint or chalk are present, which are probably detrital

in the sand temper.

Transitional Sandy Ware

There are 48 sherds of this ware, representing a maximum of 24 vessels. Sherds are generally large,

as most were recovered from the late medieval/early post medieval dumps into ditch 150. The

fabrics are all well fired, wheelthrown sandy wares:

Fabric FQ6 is a well fired, reduced greyware with common, fine sized sub-rounded quartz grains.

Fabric FQ7 Has a grey core with orange surfaces. It is well fired with common fine quartz inclusions.

Fabric MQ3 is an oxidised sandy ware with sparse, medium sized quartz.

Fabric PM-MQmic1 is a sandy grey/buff ware with sparse, medium sized sub-rounded quartz grains.

Micaceous.

These types are widespread across Hampshire and date to the later 14th-15th centuries, marking the

transition between later medieval and post medieval types. Sherds from a jar, 2 jugs and a bunghole

pitcher were identified.

Summary

Whilst there was clearly medieval occupation in this area, the vast majority of the pottery was not

recovered from deposits of secure medieval date. The only exception is the sherds of Transitional

Sandy Ware, recovered from a late medieval dumping deposit in ditch 150. Most of the types

present can be paralleled elsewhere in the Test Valley.

Assessment of the Post Medieval Pottery (table 3)

Post medieval pottery falls outside of the current research project, but the wares were assessed. The

majority of deposits and features would appear to be of post medieval or 19th-20th century date.

Several 15th-17th century wares are present, principally from 2 features, ditch 150 and pit 140 (Palace

site). These contained joining sherds of late medieval and early post medieval types including Tudor

Green, Border Ware, Raeren-type Stoneware and, most interestingly, 2 Italian or Dutch Maiolica

vessels, including at least 1 ring handled vase. These dumps appear to relate to destruction activity

in around the palace and the maiolica, in this inland context, certainly attests to the status of the

site, as do some of the non ceramic finds from this ditch. Most of the other post medieval and

modern pottery was recovered from dumps or layers and is fairly typical of assemblages from the

Test Valley, with Verwood and Post Medieval Redware dominating and sherds of Tin Glazed Ware,

English Stoneware, Refined Earthenware, Creamware, Frechen Stoneware and Flower Pots also

being present. The only pottery worthy of further study is the early post medieval material related to

the palace, and this should be combined with a study of the material culture and faunal assemblages

from these deposits.

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Ware Name SC SW MVC ASW

Tudor Green 22 91 6 4

Border Ware 4 61 3 15

Verwood 56 909 44 16

Post Medieval Redware 17 390 16 23

Raeren-type Stoneware 29 490 10 17

Frechen Stoneware 1 203 1 203

Italo-Nederlandish Maiolica 4 25 2 6

Tin Glazed Ware 20 118 18 6

Porcelain 3 4 3 1

Creamware 2 5 2 3

English Stoneware 23 436 22 19

Refined earthenware 30 114 29 4

Flower Pot 3 48 3 16

Total 214 2894 159 14

Table 3: Quantification of the Post Medieval Pottery

Conclusions

The assemblage is highly fragmented, but probably gives us some insight into the types of pottery

consumed in this area. The Anglo-Saxon material is fairly consistent with that from other sites in the

area and is generally unremarkable. The range of medieval wares is interesting, suggesting a wide

network of supply, perhaps relating to the status of the palace site. Potentially a wider range of

decorated jugs are present, contrasting the typically plain, utilitarian assemblages usually found at

rural sites in Hampshire. In the light of this it is perhaps surprising that unlike in Romsey, the first

imported wares are the Maiolica and Stoneware products dating to the late medieval or early post

medieval period. Given the fragmented nature of the assemblage and the likelihood that much of

the waste was spread over the fields, it is conceivable that such wares were present, but have not

survived in the archaeological record as it currently stands.

SUMMARY BY SITE The survival of the pottery from each site can be briefly summarised. It is not appropriate to discuss

pottery distributions, given how fragmented the assemblage is. The quantities of pottery by period

at each site are summarised in table 4.

1990 Excavations

A small and very fragmented assemblage. The Saxon pottery was principally recovered from the

grubenhäus although some was residual in later features. The fragmented nature of the assemblage

suggests that the material within the grubenhäus was either redeposited in spoil or represents

primary deposition during the use of the structure. The latter interpretation is suggested by the

faunal remains.

1997 Excavations

A larger assemblage, although the bulk of the pottery at this site is residual, either in ditch 150 or in

other features. There are no secure deposits of medieval date, with sherds generally being very

small and fragmented. The major feature is ditch 150, in which the pottery dates from the Anglo-

Saxon to post medieval periods. All of the contexts have been amalgamated as a stratigraphic matrix

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for this feature could not be located in the site archive. The Anglo-Saxon sherds are all small and

likely to be residual. These consist of a single fragment of Organic Tempered Ware, 2 of Organic

Tempered Ware with Sand, 1 of Crystalline Tempered Ware, 14 of Coarse Flint Tempered Ware.

Some of the sherds do join, but they may have been broken during excavation. The early medieval

material is equally fragmented. There are 3 small sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, 1 of

Micaceous Sandy Ware with Flint, 4 of Kennet Valley A Ware 12 of Early Medieval Fine Sandy Ware

and 65 of Wessex Coarseware. The 13th-14th century material is also very fragmented. There are 37

small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, 9 of Laverstock-type, 3 of South Hampshire Redware, 1 of

Southampton-type Sandy Ware, 1 of Surrey Whiteware, 2 of Local Whiteware, 3 of Whiteware with

Flint, 1 of Medieval Sandy Ware with Argillaceous Inclusions and 1 of Oolithic Limestone Tempered

Ware. There is a single larger sherd of Silty Sandy Ware.

The later medieval (14th-15th) century types are considerably less fragmented, although the 5 sherds

of Wessex Redware have an ASW of 10g. The less fragmented sherds consist of a large piece of

Coarse Border Ware and 43 of Transitional Sandy Ware (representing a maximum of 12 vessels).

There are also small, but joining sherds of Tudor Green, Raeren-type Stoneware and 2 Maiolica

vessels. There are also 10 larger sherds of Verwood-type and 6 of Post Medieval Redware. The ditch

seems to have been filled in the 15th or 16th century, based on the fact that sherds of this date are

generally larger than those of earlier date, and due to the presence of joining sherds of this date.

The ditch would appear to have been filled with a dump of residual material (possibly with some

being incorporated in the fill during its period of use), before secondary waste was dumped into the

pit in the later medieval period to close it. The sherds of Post Medieval Redware and Verwood may

be contemporary with the latest dumping activity, or may be intrusive. This is corroborated by the

other finds from the feature and may relate to the dumping of material from the Palace site.

Graveyard Site

All of the pottery at this site is residual/redeposited and most of the deposits are very mixed in

terms of date.

Junior School Site

extremely fragmented and ranges in date from the Anglo-Saxon to post medieval periods. There are

19 small sherds of Roman pottery. The Anglo-Saxon material consists of 2 small sherds of Organic

Tempered Ware, 21 of Organic Tempered Ware with Fine Sand, 1 of Organic Tempered Ware with

Chalk and 10 very small sherds of Chalk Tempered Ware. There are 16 small sherds of early medieval

Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, 1 of Kennet Valley A Ware, 6 of Wessex Coarseware and 23 of Fine

Sandy Ware. The later material consists of a small sherd of Laverstock-type, a larger sherd of

Verwood-type and 2 small sherds of Refined Earthenware. The post medieval pottery is probably

intrusive. The fragmented nature of the material suggests that the ditch was filled with redeposited

material, or slowly silted up. The general absence of 13th century material suggests it went out of use

by 1200.

Palace Site

There is a single closely datable pit group (pit 140), which dates to the early post medieval date, and

may be contemporary with the closing of Ditch 150 from the 1997 excavations. This feature cuts

ditch 105 and would appear to be of early post medieval date. Residual material consists of a small

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sherd of prehistoric pottery and possibly a small sherd of Transitional Sandy Ware. There are 2 large

sherds of Border Ware from a single vessel, a large sherd of Post Medieval Redware, 15 large sherds

from a single Raeren-type Stoneware vessel and 2 small sherds of Verwood-type. The pit seems to

have been filled in the 16th-17th century.

The remaining material is largely redeposited or residual. Ditches and pits appear to have been kept

clean and allowed to silt up, rather than being filled with dumps of waste (or at least not with

pottery), which was probably spread off site.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, D, 2002 Pottery in Medieval Southampton c1066-1510. CBA Research Report 133, York.

Mepham, L and Brown L. 2007, The Broughton to Timsbury Pipeline, Part 1: A late Saxon pottery kiln

and the production centre at Michelmersh, Hampshire in Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club

Archaeological Society 62, 35-68.

Musty, J., Algar, D. And Ewence, P., 1969 ‘The Medieval Pottery Kilns at Laverstock, near Salisbury,

Wiltshire, Archaeologia 52, 83-150.

Pearce, J and Vince, A. 1988, Surrey Whitewares, London and Middlesex Archaeological Society.

Timby, J, 2004 ‘Pottery’ in J. Pine and S. Preston, ‘Early Medieval Settlement on Land Adjoining

Froman’s, Cow Drove Hill, King’s Somborne, Hampshire’, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club

Archaeological Society 59, 149-54.

Vince, A, Lobb, S, Richards, J and Mepham, L. 1997, Excavations in Newbury, Berkshire 1979-1990,

Wessex Archaeology Report 13.

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Site 1990 1997 Graveyard Jnr. School Palace Total

Ware Period SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW

Prehistoric 7 37 5 7 37 5

Roman 3 10 3 4 43 11 7 25 4 19 108 6 10 41 4 43 227 5

Saxon 31 191 6 26 173 7 6 28 5 34 117 3 2 5 3 99 514 5

Medieval 1 6 6 263 2120 8 26 122 5 47 237 5 32 189 6 369 2674 7 Post Medieval 1 15 15 119 1012 9 25 560 22 3 18 6 66 1289 20 214 2894 14

Unid

3 4 1 2 12 6

5 16 3

Total 36 222 6 415 3352 8 66 747 11 103 480 5 117 1561 13 737 6362 9

Table 4: Quantification of pottery by phase and site.

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